Walking on Ice Is No Cakewalk

Maridav/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — It’s said you’ve got to learn how to crawl before you can walk. Here’s a new adage: you’ve got to learn how to walk before you walk on ice.

Specifically, physicians who are well aware of the calamities that can befall victims of ice falls recommend a certain style of walking that might help people navigate treacherous slippery surfaces that seem to be more prevalent than ever this winter.

Orthopedic surgeons at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai say the best way to keep your balance if you have no other choice but to walk on ice is to shuffle, that is, moving the feet slightly apart while walking.

They write in a statement, “Take a sidestep and bring your other foot along to meet your lead foot. Walking in this unusual method while bending your knees allows for better balance.”

However, sometimes all the precautions in the world won’t prevent a fall on ice. If that’s the case, the surgeons suggest you try to land on the hand or arm you don’t write with.

Since this easier said than done, they suggest carrying something in your so-called dominant arm while walking on ice, which would make you less inclined to use it in order to break a fall.